Minutes of Annual General Meeting held at 8pm on Monday, 30th July 2001 at St Matthew's Parish Hall, Norwood High Street (by kind permission of Canon Devane)
Present: In the chair - Anne Orange, Guest Speaker – Sr Josephine Udie, Committee: Michael Grimwood, Rod Brown, Helen O'Brien, Bernie Bullbrook, Members and others attending: Andy Brown, Gabrielle Garton-Grimwood, Richard Moore, John MacDonald, James Slattery-Kavanagh.
1. Welcome from Chair
Anne Orange welcomed and thanked those attending. She attributed the low attendance that evening to the particularly warm weather and holidays.
The Chair re-iterated the importance of the Group in holding regular meetings to raise and address local issues. James Slattery-Kavanagh mentioned that the website now had 800 visits per month (a 50% increase on the last 6 months). Richard proposed a vote of thanks to James for his work on the website and asked if the Group could investigate the possibility of linking in to the website from Lambeth's own site. James replied that visitors were coming in from the Virtual Norwood site. It was recognised that other community groups were in touch with NAG through the website and that the Group provided a welcome to people wishing to raise single issues.
2. Apologies: Jane Pickard, Gerald & Daphne Slaughter, Marion Cavanagh & Cllr John Whelan
3. Minutes of last meeting/matters arising
The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Thursday, 3rd August 2000 were approved unanimously and there were no matters arising.
4. Election of Officers
It was proposed by RM and agreed by all present that the election of officers and Constitution review would be carried out at the October meeting with Officers holding their posts until then. No Financial Report had been issued due to the ill health and consequent resignation of the Treasurer.
5. Address by Sr Josephine Udie, Southwark Community Health Council Community Development Worker
The Chair welcomed Sr Josephine, and thanked her for returning to speak at this meeting following the low turnout at the July meeting. Sr Josephine's remit was to assist in the consultation process regarding turning Dulwich Hospital into a community hospital. Plans included development of the Hospital focusing on health, social services and the Community with improved continuity of care on return home, and encouraging healthier lifestyles.
The consultation involved listening to community views regarding the inadequacies of service in the past and what the community would like to see at the Hospital. The Government hoped that Dulwich would be a model for the country. Community groups were being asked to make written submissions and attend the Public Meeting on 12 September (12-4pm) having reviewed the Government 'Position Paper' and Dulwich's own paper 'Emerging Themes'. It was intended to have 24hour services, a pharmacy able to advise, an internet cafe offering training facilities and helpers able to provide a listening ear all within a pleasant environment. Other inclusions were a minor injuries unit (not A&E) and an Emotional Trauma Unit to include staff training.
BB likened the scheme to a modern update on a cottage hospital and suggested that in the past the Hospital Almoner would have been the link person. RM and JSK were concerned that the development of these facilities would lead to the closure of other Day Care Groups already struggling to survive and a displacement of funds from other facilities. RM also felt that for some people transport to the site was a real issue, not least because the area was poorly served by public transport and that parking was limited. Sr Josephine pointed out that the scheme aimed to improve the efficiency of existing Day Care Groups by providing outreach services to them. She suggested that transport and accommodation would be provided through a Capital Funding programme. RM felt that conversion of an outdated building would entail huge running costs, why not sell off the building for housing and redevelop a purpose built building with lower maintenance costs? AO suggested that sites in Norwood, including the former college site on Knights Hill, could provide an outreach unit. MG and CW felt that such a small hospital would have few beds and soon be over capacity. Sr Josephine pointed out that the Dulwich site was intended as an administrative unit supporting outreach into people's own homes. JM felt that the scheme was intended to take people away from the main hospitals and place them in a friendly environment. BB questioned the cost effectiveness of having different satellite groups although RM noted that a Leonard Cheshire centre had been established at Roupell Park that provided respite care at night and community facilities during the day.
Before she left Sr Josephine asked who would be interested in taking the Group's views to the Public Meeting. RM, AO, BB JM and RB expressed interest. Although the daytime meeting posed problems, a further evening meeting was to be arranged in November.
6. Any Other Business
- Norwood Hall
RM alerted the Group to a planning application received on behalf of the Local Authority regarding Norwood Hall. He had heard that it was intended to be used as an IT Training Centre. He said that the issue was that residents of the Hainthorpe estate paid for the upkeep of the hall and had fought hard for the hall in the past. He noted that Elmwood school had lots of computers, and perhaps this was in some way a 'buy-off ' for the old library. Consultation papers were available for objections from Nettlefold Hall. BB stated that the Hall was a purpose built theatre with disabled access, HO'B noted that the premises had been used twice a week for many years as a toddler group providing facilities for 50-60 children. JSK felt that there had in the past been a high demand for computer courses at Norwood College but asked if this demand was sustainable. RB presumed that development of the site would lead to a reduction in the cost burden on the estate residents. BB noted that the site was a very vulnerable one for computer equipment.
- Railway allotment site.
RM mentioned that the site discussed at the May meeting had had planning permission rejected and that an enforcement order to return the land to its former ecological position had been issued. RM volunteered to bring large planning applications to the Group for its views.
- Garage at Auckland Hill
RM stated that a Volvo used parts dealer was to move into premises underneath railway arches on Auckland Hill on 2nd August. He noted that the dealer was moving from Railtrack premises on Rosendale Road where a protest group and police involvment had been unable to control the dumping of empty vehicle shells in surrounding streets. These posed a significant hazard to the public, particularly children playing in them. CW confirmed that young people already congregated near this area. It was reported that the garage owner had threatened council officials in the past. JM suggested that a letter be written to the TCM (AO agreed to write letter of objection to TCM and Railtrack).
The meeting closed at approximately 9.45pm.
